Rickenbacker Repairs in Tampa

[Crazyeelboy]

Just had an interesting experience in trying to get some work done on my 4003 S/8 in Tampa.

I first took it to Guitar Center. Their luthier clearly did not understand much about Rickenbackers. He seemed like a nice guy and all, but pretty clueless about Ricks.

The guy at Sam Ash in Tampa is totally different. He clearly knows Rickenbackers well.

I just thought I'd share...

[Ric5]

What is wrong with the 8 string Rick?

[hdracer]

A luthier at Guitar Center???
Was he there picking up some strings or something?
GC doesn't even have what I would call a tech. All they have is string changers.

[Crazyeelboy]

Originally Posted by Ric5

What is wrong with the 8 string Rick?

The action is set really high and I was looking for a way to bring it down.

[Crazyeelboy]

Originally Posted by hdracer

A luthier at Guitar Center???
Was he there picking up some strings or something?
GC doesn't even have what I would call a tech. All they have is string changers.

I was a bit surprised, too. I was initially asking for advice on someone they might know, but they said they have a repair guy who is a trained luthier... Perhaps he's good at some things, but he did not give me any confidence on his abilty to work with Ricks.

[bassmanrocke]

Originally Posted by Crazyeelboy

Just had an interesting experience in trying to get some work done on my 4003 S/8 in Tampa.

I first took it to Guitar Center. Their luthier clearly did not understand much about Rickenbackers. He seemed like a nice guy and all, but pretty clueless about Ricks.

The guy at Sam Ash in Tampa is totally different. He clearly knows Rickenbackers well.

I just thought I'd share...

Ben Chafin, formerly of Dean and the original Designer for Traben runs a repair/luthiery shop in Tampa. Look him up if you need quality work done.

[Crazyeelboy]

Good to know - thanks!

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by hdracer

A luthier at Guitar Center???
Was he there picking up some strings or something?
GC doesn't even have what I would call a tech. All they have is string changers.

hahaha .. you got that right ... at best they will have a guitar tech and hopefully he won't be incompetent.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Crazyeelboy

The action is set really high and I was looking for a way to bring it down.

Try this ...

Detune the strings and then push the neck into backbow manually and then tighten the truss rods a little at a time.

Also try tuning it DGCF, this will put less tension on the neck.

And of course check the nut and the bridge. Sometimes the nut will be cut too high on Rics.

[Crazyeelboy]

He may be competent with other things, but he did not know how to handle a Rick. On the other hand, the guy at Sam Ash is very good - so, I would not assume that a big store would never have a good luthier.